Oh-oh heat wave…We give in already

(Editor’s Note: The Great Heat Wave chilled out on Sunday just in time for a day supposedly honoring labor, yet consisting of no work. Temps dipped below 100 degrees everywhere in San Diego County, big change from the day before when 20 local places broke the 100 degrees barrier.

What happened? Tropical Storm Lidia sucked in a high pressure system bringing with it desert air. Lidia has hit the road Sunday just in time to catch the Twin Peaks finale somewhere in the great void. Best news of all, seasonal temps are back in town so get on with it then.)

When people talk about the weather as they are wont to do, whether and what-not, it’s called “small talk.”

Weather. Not. Yada yada…D’oh.

With that said, It’s been hot all week and it’s going to be hot, so get used to it; it happens every year about this time, just when you thought all summer would be cool with San Diego-like spring temps and nice, cool breezes. Cowabunga. Nice.

Just about that time, the annual high pressure floozy of a late-summer heat wave comes around to disabuse.

Saturday marked the sixth straight day during which temperatures hit 100 degrees in many communities, 20 in all.

Blame it on Lidia, as in Tropical Storm Lidia that film-flammed air circulation patterns across Southern California causing hot, dry winds to drop down yonder, creating a similar effect to the more well-known Santa Ana Winds.

Lidia promised to produce strong winds Sunday, possibly dropping rain from the mountains to the coast, especially during the afternoon and evening.

“A heat wave isn’t unusual this time of year, but we only get something that last this long like every two to three years,” said Brett Albright, a forecaster at the National Weather Service.

So, here goes; we got Escondido at 105 degrees Thursday to tie the Aug. 31 record set in 1955. Alpine also set a new Aug. 31 record, hitting 107 to break the old record of 106 set in 1955.

Ramona was the hottest town this side of the sun on Friday setting a new all-time heat record. That is to say it beat Thursday’s tale of the tape as said city topped out at 111, shattering the tired old Aug. 31 record of 104 set in 2007 and tied the all-time high set on July 22, 2006.

A FLEX alert was in effect Friday. That meant the public — “We have met the enemy and it us,” Pogo fans — was asked to conserve energy during that period. It was due to expire on Saturday though.

As of 2 p.m. on Friday, Alpine, Ramona and San Pasqual Valley had hit 108, Santeewas at 104, and Miramar was at 100.

An excessive heat warning, was set to expire Saturday night after being extended twice, while the mountains and beaches remain under a less serious heat advisory during the same period.

As if that weren’t enough, and with due respect to Harvey and Houston, next on tap was the rain. That’s as in rain in Southern California summer.

The National Weather Service said San Diego County might well receive sporadic showers on Sunday as remnants from Tropical Storm Lidia flow into the region from Mexico.

Areas west of the mountains could receive from one-quarter to one-half inch of rain, and isolated spots could receive up to one-inch, especially in the mountains. Thunderstorms are also possible.

Lidia moved ashore in southern Baja California before dawn on Friday and dumped heavy rain. Pieces of the system are expected to break off and flow to the northwest, pushing unstable air to Southern California. The tropical moisture will arrive late Saturday in San Diego.

Rain and thunderstorms that pummeled Riverside and Lake Elsinore on Thursday missed San Diego County, but San Diegans might not be so lucky over the weekend, meteorologists said. Tropical Storm Lidia, which has moved over the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, is expected to send moisture to the north starting Saturday night and lasting through Monday.

Meteorologists forecast a 50 percent chance of rain Sunday in the mountains and deserts and a 40 percent chance of rain from the foothills to the beaches. But before the rain, which is expected to cool temperatures down several degrees, San Diegans must brace for more record-breaking high temperatures.

“Ahead of the tropical moisture will be continued blazing heat across inland areas today and again on Saturday,” the NWS said. “In fact, today looks as hot as what was felt yesterday, and even hotter at some locales.”

Meteorologist Alex Tardy with the NWS said most of the heat should be gone come Monday.

“More tolerable for outdoor activities, barbecuing, spending time with the family,” said Tardy. “It’s still going to be warm, but not as warm as last week.”

After Monday though, another heatwave is expected in San Diego County.

“It may not be as bad as what we saw last week,” said Tardy. “Temperatures were getting close to 110 in Ramona. But this one will still be hot, and much above normal.”

High temperatures Friday were 87 to 92 degrees at the beaches, 99 to 104 inland, 104 to 109 in the western valleys and near the foothills, 94 to 102 in the mountains and 111 in the deserts.

Thursday afternoon, the unrelenting swelter delivered milestone thermometer readings of 111 in Ramona, beating the old top mark of 104, set in 2007; and 107 in Alpine, exceeding the prior record of 106, set in 1955. Escondido, meanwhile, tied its all-time high of 105, first set in 1955.

A few places near the ocean, however, enjoyed considerably more temperate highs, including Solana Beach (77 degrees), Oceanside Harbor (75) and Del Mar (72).

The NWS reminded residents that during an excessive heat warning, “persons working outdoors or those without access to adequate air conditioning will be more likely to experience heat-related illness, such as heat exhaustion. Some heat-related illnesses are serious enough to require hospitalization and could become fatal if left untreated.”

The weather service reminded residents to never leave children, seniors or pets unattended in cars; drink more water than usual and avoid alcohol, sugar and caffeine; wear light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat outdoors to keep the head and body cooler; and take frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.